The
House of Representatives on Thursday ordered an investigation into a
“multi-billion naria” mansion said to belong to the Minister of Niger Delta
Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe.
The
property, located at Mabushi in the Federal Capital Territory, was said to have
been built for the minister by a construction firm, SETRACO.
The
House endorsed a motion sponsored by Mr. Odeneye Kehinde on the matter and
resolved to probe the ownership of the property.
The
committees on Anti-Corruption, Drugs/Narcotics/Financial Crimes and Justice
were directed to conduct the investigation within 21 days and produce a report.
Kehinde
noted that the property had been one of the issues dominating discussions
lately in the country.
He
said, “There is no evidence that the minister declared the house in his asset
declaration with the Code of Conduct Bureau.”
He
expressed surprise that neither the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
nor the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission had
considered the issue important for investigation.
Part
of the motion he presented before the House read, “It is saddening for me
to have to come up with a motion of this nature to address a matter which ought
to have been taken up by our anti-corruption agencies.
“This
motion is brought against the backdrop of mounting disclosures of corrupt
practices levelled against a sitting minister by some anti-corruption outfits
in the country.
“A
summary of the allegation runs thus:
The
minister has paid for so many phantom projects.
“The
minister is presently resident in a house at Mabushi District Abu]a built and
handed over to him by SETRACO, a construction company that doubles as his
crony.”
He
added, “The minister’s failure to declare the said house in his asset
declaration form with Code of Conduct Bureau, is a case of perjury if
established.
“The
minister’s financial escapades and liaisons are in Dubai and other corruption
shelters overseas.
“These
weighty allegations were at first peremptorily rubbished and dismissed by the
minister as handiwork of his detractors and some mischief-makers who were out
for extortion.
“Since
then, he has unfortunately laboured hard using the media to fault these revelations.”
Source:
Punch
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